Wave amplifier electron discharge device



March 12, 1957 c. T. GODDARD WAVE AMPLIFIER ELEcIRoN DISCHARGE DEVICE Filedot. 17. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N VEN TOR B C. 7.' 6 ODD/1 RD A 7` TORNEV March 12, 1957 c. T. GoDDARD wAvE AMPLIFIER ELEcIEoN DISCHARGE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OCT.. 17, 1952 m, .Ork

/Nl/ENTOR C. 7.' 6000A RD By y Arrow/Ey United States Patent O WAVE AMPLIFIER ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Charles T. Goddard, Basking Ridge, N. J., assignor'to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 17, 1952, Serial No. 315,283

Claims. (Cl. 315-39) This invention relates to electron discharge devices and more particularly to such devices especially suitable for the amplification of a wide band of frequencies.

In the design of amplifiers, attention has been directed for some time to the problem of increasing the gain, i. e. the amplification, while at the same time increasing the band width of the frequencies that can be amplified. As these two quantities, gain and band Width, are interdependent, a high gain has priorly been attained by a sacrifice in band width or a wide band width by a sacritice in gain. One type of circuit that has been employed in an attempt to attain high gain with broad band width is that generally identified as a wave or chain amplifier in which a number of tubes are connected between two transmission lines or delay lines and afford the gain of the amplifier. These circuits require a number of separate tubes, separate impedances, capacitances and inductors, and are subject to frequency limitations due to the stray capacitances associated with the individual tube elements and the leads for these elements.

It is an object of this invention to attain amplification of a broad band of frequencies without sacrificing the gain attainable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved wave amplifier wherein all of the elements of the amplifier are situated Within a single electron discharge device. Thus it is an object of this invention to simplify wave amplifiers and to considerably reduce their cost. A

It is a still further object of this invention to provide advantageous structures for grounded grid wave amplifier triodes.

T hese and other objects of this invention `are attained by positioning the two transmissionlines of a wave amplifi'er within ka single electron discharge device. The inputtransmission line in accordance witha feature of this invention comprises elemental cathode areas interconnected by impedances and a grounded grid electrode adjacent all of the elemental cathode areas, and the output transmission line in accordance with a feature of this invention comprises elemental anode areas interconnected by impedances and the grounded grid electrode. The grounded grid electrodel is thus common to both .transmission lines and isolates themfrom each other as to high frequency wave energy so that essentially the only coupling between the two lines is provided by the electron streams of the electron discharge device elements defined by aligned elemental cathode and anode areas and the intervening portion of the grounded grid *electrode. VThe impedances interconnecting thev anode elements and the cathode elements and the capacitances between Vthese-elements and thel interposed grid electrode are 'such that the-phase velocity of the two transmission lines isthe esame so that the energy transferred fromy the inputl transmission ,line to the outputtransmission line by'the; electron .streams always arrivesin Vproper phase relationship to increment the velectro'rr'iag'netic wave trav- "ice eling along the output transmission line. Each line is terminated by an absorption network at its end opposite from the terminals of the device.

In one specific illustrative embodiment of this invention, the impedances between the anode and cathode elements comprise individual turns of a pair of coils mounted adjacent the anodes and cathodes. mounted by a single support member and the cathodes are also mounted by a single support member. In this specific embodiment, the grid electrode comprises a plurality of wires positioned between the anode and cathode support members and advantageously secured to one of the members. The support members may be spring biased together to form a compact assembly.

in another specific embodiment of this invention, the two transmission lines comprise ridge-wave guide filter sections, the ridges of one section having a cathodic coating thereon and being heated by an appropriate heater element and the ridges of the other section comprising anode elements and being aligned with the ridges of the first section. The grounded grid electrode advantageously comprises a plurality of wires interposed between the two groups of ridges and may be secured to one of the wave guide sections. The impedances between the anodev and cathode elements are thus the resonator sections defined by the wave guide sections between successive ridges.

It is therefore a feature of this invention that an electron discharge device comprise a pair of transmission lines within the envelope of the device and each comprising elemental sections of a plurality of distinct discharge device elements interconnected by impedances and supported by common support elements.

lt is a further feature of this invention that an electron discharge device comprise a plurality of discharge elements, the anodes of the discharge elements comprising an output transmission line and the cathodes of the discharge elements comprisingan input'transrnission line,

-a grounded grid electrode extending between the two on common support members and that the impedances' therebetween comprise individual turns of a pair of coils to which the cathode and anode elements are electrically connected.

It is a feature of another specific embodiment of this invention that the impedances between the cathode and anode elements comprise resonator portions of wave guide sections.

A complete understanding of this invention and of these aforementioned and other desirable features thereof may be gained from consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an electron discharge device in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one specific illustrative embodiment of this invention, the envelope and terminal connections therethrough not being shown;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 2

Turning now to fthe drawing, Fig. 1 is a schematic The anodes aref representation of an electron discharge device in accordance with this invention. As there depicted, the -device comprises an envelope 1d into which extend `an input transmission line 1i and an output transmission line 12, lthe two transmission lines having in common the grounded electrode i3 as one element of each of the lines. The input 'transmission line comprises within the envelope a plurality of discrete cathode elements 15 ioined ticge'ther by a plurality of impedan-ces or transducer' elements 16. The output transmission line 12 similarly com prises a plurality of discrete anode elements i ,l together by a plurality of impedances `or transducer' element 19, the anode elements 13 and the cathode elements 15 being aligned defining together with the portion of the electrode 13 intermediate them a plurality of triode discharge devices. As the transmission iines are cle-:- trically isolated by the common grounded electrode i3, the Velectron streams of the triode devices thus dened constitute essentially the only coupling between them.

ln audition to the lumped impedances in' and i9, there is present in each transmission line distributed capacitance existing between the cathode elements i5 and the grid 13 in the input line 1l, and designated by the numeral 2i, and existing between the anode elements 15 and the grid 13 in ythe output line i2 and designated by the numeral 22. Each line is terminated by impedance terminating elements, such as resistor 2d in parallel with capacitor 25, direct current blocking capacitor 26 being lin series with the resistor 24. Direct current biases are advantageously `applied to the cathode elements yand `the ano-de elements 13 by voltage sour-ces 2S and 29 respectively. A heater coil 3i) is positioned adjacent eac of the cathode elements i5.

`in the operation of the electron discharge device illustrated in Fig. l, an input electromagnetic Wave is applied to the input transmission line il and in traveling along the line it alters the potential difference between the cathode sections i5 and the portion of the control grid 13 adjacent thereto, thereby varying the electron `stream of each of the discharge device elements. The-se electron streams impinge on the anode elements 1S and cause an output wave to 'travel along the output transmission line i2. This output wave caused bythe coupling of `the electron streams' to the input wave actually will travel in both directions from each anode element i8 but the backward wave is absorbed by the terminating network comprising the resistor 24 and capacitor 25; similarly the input wave after traveling down the input transmis- Vsion line is absorbed by the terminating network connected to the input line.

The impedunces and, i9 which connect successive cathode elements 15 and anode elements 19, respectively, :together with the distributed capacitances 21 and 22 are chosen so that the phase velocity of the two transmission line-s is the same. Thus the electron stream of each successive electron discharge device element supplies energy to the output wave in proper phase to cause that wave to build up so that the output voltage across the transmission line i2 is due to the summation of the electron streams of the discharge device elements of the devicea One specic structural embodiment of this invention is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. ln this embodiment, the irnpcdances 16 and i9 which interconnectsuccessive cathode and anode elements 15 and 18 `are each defined by` a coil wound upon a ceramic post, individual turns of the coil being tapped to each of the electrode elements. Thus the cathode impedances i6 `are dened eachv by turns of the -coii 33, 'best seen in Fig. 3, which is wound on ceramic or other insulating post 35. and connected by tabs 35 to each elemental cathode section 36. The cathode sections 36 are each supported on the upper surface of a hollow rectangular ceramic block 3S having stepped end portions 39. `-Thecathode sections may advantageously be each a'separa't'e plate member affixed to the upper surface of the insulator block 38, or they may be fabrica-tC-'dbycoat'-V ing the entire upper surface of the block 3S with cathodic material and then cutting line grooves in the cathode rnaterial and ldown to the insulating surface of the block 3S -to define the elemental cathode sections 35, Alternatively the surface of the block may have -srnall channel portions cut into it and then be coated with a cathodic material, following which the surface is ground down so that the .insulating surface reappears' between the grooves but the grooves remain filled with the cathodic material ire cathode sections 36 .are inlaid into the surface of the insulator block 3S'. ln such case, the tabs 35 from each cathode section 36 lto a turn of the coil 33 may be positioned in `the groove before the cathodic material is deposited therein.

i3 ch anode element 18 may be a small plate member #i3 supported by a pin l extending through the back of anode insulator block 42 which has slight sides 43, the anode block 42 being thu-s channel shaped. Each anode member at) is connected through the pin 41 .and a tab44 to a turn of the anode coil 46 which is located on a ceramic or other insulator post 47 and may be identical with the` cathode coil 33.

The grounded grid electrode 13 comprises a plurality of fine wires 49 which extend across the ano-de insulator block 42 and 'are secured to the .sides 43 of the block 42. A grid lead member Si) is interposed between onel of the sides 43 andthe wires 49 and extends the Whole length of the grid 13 whereby a low `impedance ground connection is supplied to the grid i3 along its entire length. Advantageously the envelope yof the device, not shown, is metallic and defines the ground so that the long Vlead member 50 can be connected directly to the envelope.

A pair of ceramic rods 52 rest `on the stepped end portions 39 and are between the two insulator 'block` members 3S `and ft2 to define the spacing between the `cathode sections 36 .and the control grid wires 49,V the cathode block member 33v being spring biased against the rods 52 by a spring wire 53 bearing against a ceramic rod 54 positioned against the back of the cathode block member 38 adjacent the middle portion thereof. The

, desired spacing between thevelements is thus attained as disclosed in my Patent 2,663,819, issued December 22, 1953. The ceramic rods 34 and i7 on which the cathode and anode impedance coils 33 and 46, respectively, are wound are supported by end insulator discs S6, which may advantageously be of mica, and through which the end portions 57 of the anode insulator block member 42 extend. The two insulator discs 56 may be supported together by posts 59 to which they lare attached by eye lets 66. A cathode heater wire 62, equivalent to the heater element 30 of the schematic embodiment of Fig. 1, extends through apertures in one of the discs 56 and into the hollow central portion of the hollow cathode insulator block member 38.

The terminals of the device are connected to the end 65 of the coil 33 for the input transmission line 11 and to the end 64 of the coil 46 for the output transmission line 12. Thus only these two coil ends 64 and 65 need be connected to terminals, in addition to the terminals for the heater wire 62, to provide proper connection to all of the active and passive elements of the triode wave amplier. y

In the above-described embodiment, the coupling impedances between the elemental anode and cathode sections are provided by turns of inductances, bu't various other impedances or transducers could be employed. Thus in the specific illustrative embodiment depic'ted in Figs. 4 and 5 these coupling impedances are provided by cavity resonators.y Turning now to those l'igures, the electron discharge device there depicted comprises a pair of substantiallyidentical Wave guide lter. sections 68 and 69 eachcomprising a cover member 70 having an" aperture 71 therein, a base member 72 having a plurality of upright posts or ridges 73, and a coaxial terminal 74 having its inner conductor 75 connected to the base mem-;

ber 72 and its outer conductor 76 connected to the cover member 70. The apertures 71 are aligned and the upright posts 73 are also aligned, the upright posts 73 of wave guide section 68 having electron emissive surfaces 78 facing the upright portions of the wave guide section 69. A grid electrode 3) extends across the apertures 71 and advantageously comprises a plurality of ne wires attached to one of the wave guide sections, the grid electrode 80 isolating the two wave guide sections so that essentially the only coupling between the'transmission lines deiined by the wave guide lter sections 68 and 69 is provided by the electron lstreams from the cathode upright posts to the adjacent anode upright posts. Y

The inner conductors of the coaxial terminals 74 have ridge wave guide transducer elements 82 to match the impedance of the coaxial terminals to that of the wave guide sections. The base members 72, as best seen in Fig. 5, are advantageously narrower than the cover members 70.

Each waveguide section advantageously has a resistive card termination 85 at the end opposite the terminal 74, the resistive card termination comprising the terminating impedance 24 for the transmission line defined by the wave guide section. A heater element, not shown, is also advantageously positioned within the wave guide section to heat each of the individual cathode sections defined by the cathodic coating 78 on the cathode posts 73.

The impedances of transducers 16 and 19 between the cathode and anode elements and 1S in the schematic representation of Fig. 1 are thus defined by the resonator portions 86 between adjacent upright posts or ridges 73 in each wave guide lter section. As the wave guide sections 68 and 69 are advantageously identical except for the provision of cathodic coating 7S and a heater element for the input section 68, the impedances defined by the resonator portions 86 are identical and the two transmission lines are of the same phase velocity.

Reference is made to my application Serial No. 315,281, led October 17, 1952, wherein a related invention is described.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in they art without departing from the vspirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electron discharge device comprising an envelope, an input and an output transmission line extending through said envelope and comprising within said envelope elemental sections of a plurality of distinct discharge device elements, impedance means connected between successive ones of said elemental sections of said lines, corresponding ones of said elemental sections being electrically connected in series to receive successively wave energy transmitted along said transmission lines, electrode means within said envelope isolating said transmission lines as to high frequency wave energy, the electron streams of said discharge device elements being substantially the only coupling between said lines, input means for applying an input signal solely to the irst discharge device element in said input transmission line, output means for removing an output signal solely from the last discharge device element in said output transmission line, and second impedance means terminating the end of each of said transmission lines removed from said input and output means.

2. An electron discharge device comprising an envelope, an input and an output transmission line extending through said envelope and each comprising within said envelope elemental sections of a plurality of distinct discharge device elements, a common support member for the elemental sections of each of said transmission lines, iirst impedance means connected between successive ones of 6 said elemental sections of said lines, corresponding ones offzsaid elemental sections being electrically connected in series to receive successively Wave venergy trans' prising substantially the only coupling between said lines,v

means for applying an inputsignal solely to the rst discharge device element in said input transmission line, and means for receiving an output signal solely from the last discharge device element in said output transmission line. l v

3. An electron discharge device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first impedance means are also supported by said common support members. y

4. An electron discharge device comprising an envelope, an input transmission line extending through said envelope and comprising within said envelope a plurality of cathode elements electrically connected in series to receive successively wave energy transmitted along said input transmission line, a common support member for said cathode elements, rst impedance means between said cathode elements, and a grounded grid electrode, an output transmission line extending through said envelope and comprising within said envelope a plurality of anode elements electrically connected in series to receive successively wave energy transmitted along said output transmission line, second impedance means between said anode elements, and said grounded grid.

elements and the electron streams of said discharge device elements being substantially the only coupling between said lines, third impedance means terminating one end of each of said transmission lines, means for applyingy an input signal solely to said grid electrode and the rst cathode element of said input transmission line, and means for removing an output signal solely from said grid and the last anode element of said output transmission line.

V5. An electron discharge device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said rst and second impedance means comprise a pair of coils positioned within said envelope and comprising means electrically connecting each of said cathode elements to distinct turns of one of said coils and means electrically connecting each of said anode elements to distinct turns of the other of said coils.

6. An electron discharge device comprising an envelope, an input transmission line extending through said envelope and comprising within said envelope a plurality of cathode elements electrically connected in series to receive successively wave energy transmitted along said input transmission line, a common support member for said cathode elements, irst impedance means connected between successive ones of said cathode elements, and a grounded grid electrode, an output trans mission line extending through said envelope and comprising within said envelope a plurality of anode elements electrically connected in series to receive successively wave energy transmitted along said output transmission line, a common support member for said anode elements, second impedance means connected between successive ones of said anode elements, said grounded grid electrode, and third impedance means terminating one end of each of said transmission lines, said anode elements being aligned with said cathode elements and dening with the portion of said grid electrode interposed therebetween electron discharge device elements and the electron streams of said discharge elements comprising substantially the only coupling between said lines, means for applying an input signal to aromas said grid and only the first cathode element of said input transmission line, and means for receiving an output signal from said grid and only the last anode element of said output transmission line.

7. An electron discharge device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first and second impedance means connected between said cathode elements and said anode elements comprise resonator sections defined by said common support members.

8. A wave amplifier electron discharge device comprising a first support member, a plurality of cathode elements supported by said first support member, a first coil positioned to one side of said first support member, means electrically connecting each ofV said cathode elements to distinct turns of said first coil, a second support member, a plurality of anode elements supported by said second support member, a second coil positioned to oney side of said second support member, means electrically connecting each of said anode elements to distinct turns of said second coil, said anode elements being aligned with said cathode elements, a grid` electrode comprising a plurality of wires extending between said cathode elements and said anode elements, said cathode elements, turns of said first coil, and grid electrode comprising an input transmission line, said cathode elements being electrically connected in series to receive successively wave energy transmitted along said input transmission line and said anode elements, turns of said second coil, and grid electrode comprising an output transmission line, said anode elements being electrically connected in series to receive successively wave energy transmitted along said output transmission line, means applying a ground potential to said grid electrode to isolate said transmission lines as to high frequency wave energy.

9. A wave amplifier electron discharge device comprising an envelope, a first support member Within said envelope, a plurality of cathode elements mounted on one surface of said first support member, a first post within said envelope, a first coil wound on said first post, tab means electrically connecting each of said cathode elements to distinct turns of said first coil, a second support member within said envelope adjacent said first support member, a plurality of anode elements mounted on one surface of said second support member, said anode elements being opposite to and aligned with said cathode elements, a second post within said envelope, a

second coil wound on said second post, tab lmeans electrically connecting said anode elements to distinct turns of said second coil, a plurality of wires extending between said first and second support members and defining a grid electrode between said cathode elements and said anode elements, said cathode elements, turns of said first coil, and Wires defining an input transmission line and said anode elements, turns of said second coil, and wires defining an output transmission line, means for applying a ground potential to said wires to isolate said transmission lines as to high frequency wave energy, impedance means terminating one end of each of said transmission lines, means positioning said wires from said cathode elements, and means mounting said first and second support members together in a compact assembly.

l0. A wave amplifier electron discharge device comprising an input wave guide section comprising a conducting member having a plurality of upright ridgesl defining cathodes on one surface, said ridges defining resonator portions therebetween, and a cover member encompassing said conducting member and having an aperture therein adjacent said upright ridges, an output wave guide section comprising a conducting member having a plurality of upright ridges defining anodes on one surface aligned with said cathode ridges of said first wave guide section and defining resonator portions therebetween and a cover member encompassing said conducting -member and having an aperture therein adjacent said upright ridges and mating with said aperture in said first cover member, a grid element comprising a plurality of fine wires extending across said mating apertures and connected to said cover members to isolate said input and output Wave guide sections as to high frequency wave energy, input means for transfering energy to one end of said input wave guide section, output means for transfering energy from the opposite end of said output wave guide section, and impedance means for terminating the other ends of each of said Wave guide sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,538 Potter July 5, 1938 2,595,677 Law May 6, 1952 2,698,398 Ginzton Dec. 28, 1954 

